Section 1.

Powers, Square
Roots, and Order
of Operations

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 Exponents
An exponent is a “shorthand” number that saves writing
the multiplication of the same numbers.

3 3 3 3  3 4

exponent
34
base

This is read “three to the fourth power.”

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 Exponential Notation

If x is a real number and n is a positive integer, then

x n  x x  x  x...
n factors

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 Example

Write in exponential notation.

a. (8)(8)(8)  83

b.  5  ( 5)( 5)( 5)( 5)  ( 5)5

c. (y)(y)(y)(y)  y 4

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 Example

Evaluate.

a. 34 = 3  3  3  3 = 81

b. 35 = 3  3  3  3  3 = 243

c. 53 = 5  5  5 = 125

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 Example

Evaluate.

a. (3)3  ( 3)( 3)( 3)  27

b. ( 4)6
 4096

c. (5 )  625
4

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 Square Roots
2×2=4

2 is a square root of 4 because (2)(2) = 4.

4 is a square root of 16 because (4)(4) = 16.

Radical sign
42
Radicand
The principal square root is the nonnegative square root.

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 Example

Evaluate.

a. 121  11

b.  100  10

c. 16 4

49 7

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 Example

Evaluate.

a. 0.09  0.3

b. 2500  50

c. 25 This is not a real number.

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 Order of Operations for Numbers

1. Combine numbers inside grouping symbols.

2. Raise numbers to their indicated powers and take
any indicated roots.
3. Multiply and divide from left to right.
4. Add and subtract from left to right.

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 Example

Evaluate the expression 4 + (42 – 13)4 – 3.

4 + (42 – 13)4 – 3
Evaluate the exponent inside the
= 4 + (16 – 13)4 – 3 parentheses.

= 4 + (3)4 – 3 Work inside the parentheses.

= 4 + 81 – 3 Evaluate the exponent.

= 85 – 3 Add.

= 82 Subtract.

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 Example

Evaluate. ( 3)2  (4)2

( 3)2  (4)2  9  16

 25

5

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 Example

Evaluate. 5  8  7  13

5  8  7  13  9

9

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 Example

Evaluate the expression 7( 3)  23  49

7( 3)  23  49

 7( 3)  8  49 Evaluate the exponent.

 7( 3)  8  7 Evaluate the square root.

 21  8  7 Multiply.

 29  7 Subtract.

 22 Add.

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 Example

Evaluate the expression 2  6 2

 12  3
.
48
2  6  12  3 2  36  12  3
2


48 48
72  4

48
68

4
 17

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